Stories from Matthew Cooper | Express & Star

Local news you can trust

Close

Matthew Cooper

PA Reporter

January 30, 2026

Supporting image for story: Asylum seeker facing life sentence for hotel worker Rhiannon Whyte’s murder near Bescot Stadium station

Asylum seeker facing life sentence for hotel worker Rhiannon Whyte’s murder near Bescot Stadium station

January 23, 2026

$Supporting image for story: Five-week-old Staffordshire baby suffered more than 40 rib fractures, parents’ murder trial told$

Five-week-old Staffordshire baby suffered more than 40 rib fractures, parents’ murder trial told

January 16, 2026

Supporting image for story: Judge moves trial of defendant accused of Birmingham city centre stabbing murder

Judge moves trial of defendant accused of Birmingham city centre stabbing murder

January 7, 2026

Supporting image for story: Warwickshire Police officer denies stealing cash, jewellery and power tool after drugs bust

Warwickshire Police officer denies stealing cash, jewellery and power tool after drugs bust

January 6, 2026

Supporting image for story: Birmingham murder trial told a drugs line buyer was kicked to death by dealers after a text message

Birmingham murder trial told a drugs line buyer was kicked to death by dealers after a text message

December 23, 2025

Supporting image for story: Monkey dust valued at £1.5m found in parked van in Staffordshire

Monkey dust valued at £1.5m found in parked van in Staffordshire

December 16, 2025

Supporting image for story: Birmingham boy, 15, accused of murdering 12-year-old schoolboy Leo Ross to stand trial next year

Birmingham boy, 15, accused of murdering 12-year-old schoolboy Leo Ross to stand trial next year

December 8, 2025

Supporting image for story: Judge lifts ban on naming child asylum seekers who both raped teenage West Midlands girl

Judge lifts ban on naming child asylum seekers who both raped teenage West Midlands girl

December 5, 2025

Supporting image for story: Birmingham rapist who lured teenage victim through flat-sharing app jailed for 12 years

Birmingham rapist who lured teenage victim through flat-sharing app jailed for 12 years

Supporting image for story: Police officer appears in court accused of stealing jewellery from raided property

Police officer appears in court accused of stealing jewellery from raided property

November 26, 2025

Supporting image for story: Man accused of Walsall sex attack and religiously aggravated assault remanded in custody

Man accused of Walsall sex attack and religiously aggravated assault remanded in custody

November 14, 2025

Supporting image for story: Three arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences in West Midlands

Three arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences in West Midlands

November 9, 2025

Supporting image for story: Fighting From Home sculpture unveiled in the Black Country honours vital Second World War workers

Fighting From Home sculpture unveiled in the Black Country honours vital Second World War workers

November 7, 2025

Supporting image for story: Man, 43, arrested and bailed after 20 tonnes of waste fly-tipped near Staffordshire homes

Man, 43, arrested and bailed after 20 tonnes of waste fly-tipped near Staffordshire homes

November 6, 2025

Supporting image for story: More than 700 officers deployed and protest planned for Aston Villa-Maccabi game

More than 700 officers deployed and protest planned for Aston Villa-Maccabi game

October 24, 2025

Supporting image for story: Asylum seeker convicted of murdering Walsall hotel worker in ‘cowardly’ station stabbing

Asylum seeker convicted of murdering Walsall hotel worker in ‘cowardly’ station stabbing

October 21, 2025

Supporting image for story: Asylum seeker accused of Walsall murder tells jury he ‘never had a problem with anyone’

Asylum seeker accused of Walsall murder tells jury he ‘never had a problem with anyone’

October 15, 2025

Supporting image for story: Witness describes ‘terrified’ screams of Walsall hotel worker ‘stabbed by asylum seeker’

Witness describes ‘terrified’ screams of Walsall hotel worker ‘stabbed by asylum seeker’

October 12, 2025

Supporting image for story: Two young children who died in Stafford prompting murder investigation are named

Two young children who died in Stafford prompting murder investigation are named

October 7, 2025

Supporting image for story: Birmingham man found guilty of stalking Classic FM presenters Myleene Klass and Katie Breathwick

Birmingham man found guilty of stalking Classic FM presenters Myleene Klass and Katie Breathwick

September 10, 2025

Supporting image for story: TV presenter and Wolverhampton workshop owner Jay Blades pleads not guilty to two counts of rape

TV presenter and Wolverhampton workshop owner Jay Blades pleads not guilty to two counts of rape

September 5, 2025

Supporting image for story: Man accused of murdering hotel worker in Walsall tells court he will attend his trial

Man accused of murdering hotel worker in Walsall tells court he will attend his trial

July 18, 2025

Supporting image for story: Mystery artwork of former England boss eating chips appears in Dudley town centre

Mystery artwork of former England boss eating chips appears in Dudley town centre

June 27, 2025

Supporting image for story: Birmingham baby death suspect bailed as police force makes referral to IOPC

Birmingham baby death suspect bailed as police force makes referral to IOPC

June 26, 2025

Supporting image for story: Birmingham woman arrested over neglect allegation after death of baby boy

Birmingham woman arrested over neglect allegation after death of baby boy

May 1, 2025

Supporting image for story: Arson attack accused thought he was going to ‘torch’ a car, Wolverhampton murder trial told

Arson attack accused thought he was going to ‘torch’ a car, Wolverhampton murder trial told

April 2, 2025

Supporting image for story: Jury sent out to deliberate in Oldbury schoolboy Jahziah Coke murder trial

Jury sent out to deliberate in Oldbury schoolboy Jahziah Coke murder trial

March 10, 2025

Supporting image for story: Teenager accused of boy’s murder in Oldbury ‘used friend’s phone to look for Paris trains’

Teenager accused of boy’s murder in Oldbury ‘used friend’s phone to look for Paris trains’

February 14, 2025

Supporting image for story: US citizen Aimee Betro pleads not guilty to conspiracy to murder West Midlands shop owner

US citizen Aimee Betro pleads not guilty to conspiracy to murder West Midlands shop owner

February 7, 2025

Supporting image for story: Teenager accused of murdering woman at Bescot Stadium train station murder appears in court via video-link

Teenager accused of murdering woman at Bescot Stadium train station murder appears in court via video-link

January 21, 2025

Supporting image for story: West Midlands construction firm fined £60,000 over safety failure after death of steeplejack

West Midlands construction firm fined £60,000 over safety failure after death of steeplejack

January 17, 2025

Supporting image for story: Extradited US woman accused of gun murder bid plot refused bail by UK court

Extradited US woman accused of gun murder bid plot refused bail by UK court

January 15, 2025

Supporting image for story: Muslim convert planned to attack mosque, police and military, terror trial told

Muslim convert planned to attack mosque, police and military, terror trial told

December 23, 2024

Supporting image for story: Large blaze at Birmingham shop tackled by dozens of firefighters is being treated as 'suspected arson'

Large blaze at Birmingham shop tackled by dozens of firefighters is being treated as 'suspected arson'

December 17, 2024

Supporting image for story: Ex-West Mercia PC claims ‘sex life’ message sent to revenge porn victim was 'everyday banter'

Ex-West Mercia PC claims ‘sex life’ message sent to revenge porn victim was 'everyday banter'

December 13, 2024

Supporting image for story: Bescot Station murder: Teenager denies murdering woman who worked at asylum seeker hotel

Bescot Station murder: Teenager denies murdering woman who worked at asylum seeker hotel

November 27, 2024

Supporting image for story: Jury out in trial of pair accused of causing death of son found buried in garden

Jury out in trial of pair accused of causing death of son found buried in garden

November 25, 2024

Supporting image for story: Body-in-garden trial told three-year-old died after ‘breathtaking’ cruelty

Body-in-garden trial told three-year-old died after ‘breathtaking’ cruelty

November 22, 2024

Supporting image for story: Keir Starmer ‘engaging with campaigners’ on Birmingham pub bombings but does not commit to inquiry

Keir Starmer ‘engaging with campaigners’ on Birmingham pub bombings but does not commit to inquiry

November 21, 2024

Supporting image for story: King praises courage of Birmingham’s people 50 years on from pub bombings

King praises courage of Birmingham’s people 50 years on from pub bombings